I came across the most awesome travel tripod I’ve ever seen, hands down. Unfortunately, it’s a Kickstarter project only halfway to its goal with just 15 days left. The MeVideo travel video tripod, called the Globetrotter, is well-made and durable, and yet it’s lightweight and compact. It collapses down to 21.9 inches. Then it extends out to 65.7 inches. The fluid video head supports cameras as heavy as 8.8 pounds. It will not, however, support a smartphone without an adapter. This tripod is meant for heavier videography equipment, but a standard tripod smartphone adapter will work just fine with it. The Globetrotter weighs from six to 6.6 pounds, depending on whether you get carbon fiber or aluminum legs. This tripod provides improved pan, tilt, and counterbalance performance compared to its closest competitors. It also features dust and dirt resistant metal/rubber twist locks rather than plastic flip latches. The edging is brushed metal and all knobs are metal. A split center column is perfect for those low-to-the-ground shots. Yes, a review of the MeVideo Globetrotter video travel tripod is forthcoming.

iKlip Grip Pro is one of those devices that appeals to my love of clever. In one device, IK Multimedia has a tabletop tripod, a monopod/camera grip, and a selfie stick with an included Bluetooth remote the company pretends we’ll use for above-the-crowd shots. Better, the company did so without compromising the function of any of those three modes.

IK Multimedia announced Tuesday that iKlip Grip Pro has shipped. This clever device serves as a desktop tripod, an above-the-crowd extender (or selfie stick), or a handheld camera grip. It features a pivoting ball-joint attachment for 90 degree angle adjustments and 360 degree rotation. It also comes with a detachable Bluetooth button you can use to trigger your camera app or camera. It will mount a smartphone, GoPro, or DSLR camera, too. I’ve been thinking about tripods recently, and while there are a ton of good ones on the market, this device seems super flexible. I plan on checking it out. It’s US$59.99/€59.99, and it’s available now. The video below offers a solid look at the iKlip Grip Pro.